Weary Cowboy
Williams Lake [named after an aboriginal chief William] is as cowboy as Montana. Tall hats, horses, muddy knee high boots, cattle, country music, and more horses define the soul of the town. Locals pride their ranching and logging traditions. Large pulp mills take in freshly cut lengthy oversized logs from giant trucks which buzz highway 97 day and night. Dark smoke plumes billow constantly from the receiving factories seemingly poisoning the otherwise beautiful, but dry, countryside.
Now on day 29 of this stage of my Dream Walk having walked more than 600 miles, I am a little tired. I start walking at 6 AM and go all day until the fatigue sets in. I have a cooler filled with iced water bottles. They don’t help during the last most difficult two hours. I am reminded of the cowboy at McNesse Lake “Hey partner, there was a lot of things they didn’t tell me when I signed on for this outfit”